3:43 Downpatrick Tips

Samba Train has won three of eight starts, including a hurdle and two National Hunt flat races, and has a strong record on this ground. She is proven over this distance, having won her only previous start at the trip. Her unseat at Galway is easy to forgive because she was strongly fancied, going really well then simply misjudged one fence. Her earlier hurdle win at Kilbeggan came over 2m 2f, so this longer trip should be well within reach.

Except for her debut when finishing 4th, she is yet to finish outside the top two in her five subsequent starts, including a win at Tramore on her penultimate start. This is her handicap debut, and she looks on a good opening mark.

At odds of 7/1, she stands out as a promising candidate to secure a top finish, especially given her two victories at this C&D, including a stunning five-length triumph in her latest run here.

Theflyingbee has won 2 of her 21 starts and is consistent, having been placed on 7 occasions. Her last win was over 2m 3f here at Downpatrick on June 25. She was placed in all three starts in the spring, the last being when runner-up at Clonmel in May off a mark of 115. She is just 2 lbs higher, and if ready to go after a short break looks like a good each-way bet with four places on offer.

2 time course and distance winner looks on a good mark today, ground in its favour , jockey claims a valuable 5lb can go close

She has mainly raced over fences this year, where she remains a maiden. She was running well on the flat and over hurdles last year. In nine consecutive runs between March and September, she had three wins and five placed efforts. If she can rediscover that form, she has a good chance.